English author Joanna Trollope's latest novel takes a close look at the woes that can arise when you mix family with business.
Aptly titled, Balancing Act follows the life of the creative and determined Susie Moran, who founded and runs a pottery company with her three daughters, Cara, Ashley and Grace.
It's a successful business, with the girls having helped to grow it over the years.
However, Susie finds her position of authority rocked when her daughters become increasingly at odds with her ideas and plans for the business in the future.
The girls and some of their partners see it growing in one way, but Susie has another way in mind.
Throw in the sudden arrival of an ageing hippy father, who disappeared from the family long ago for a carefree life in Kenya, and Susie finds herself quickly losing the power and control she once so comfortably held.
There's plenty of emotion and relationship drama, and with the main characters mostly female it's fair to say women are the target readers here.
The plot drags on a bit, but this is compensated by the well-developed characters whose personalities and thoughts are explored in great detail.
* Balancing Act by Joanna Trollope is published by Doubleday/Random House, rrp $32.99
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